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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "service fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lucytamlyn83@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: James Knight <"www."@mint.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: James Knight <lucytamlyn83@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 03:42:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICA STATES
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICA STATES (E.CO.W.A.S)
REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, IN REPUBLIC of Benin.
Tel +22998734449,
This is director.James Knight. the Former United States Ambassador in Republic of Benin, I came down here in Cotonou Benin Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and I was searching for some files that I left in this office before I left and found out that you have not received your fund, and I asked the present ambassador Lucy Tamlyn what happened that you have not receive your fund since 2 years now, and she said that you refused to pay the required fee for the transfer of your fund.
I’m contacting you this morning because the director of the Bank center there in Benin Republic said that they will divert your payment to the Government Treasury just because that you cannot pay for the service fee of your fund. But I told them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know the reason why you rejected your fund which is $1.5m which just because of the fee.
I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me the reason why you have abandon your fund because of fee But if you don’t need it then I can change your name to another person so that this Government will claim this money but I know that you will love to have it. I will help you to receive your fund because it was a big shock to me that you have not receive your fund since 2 years now, and I’m very sorry for that and you will receive your fund before the end of this meeting and I will be here to monitor it until you receive your fund.
Am looking forward to hear from you with the reason
Contact Ambassador (lucytamlyn83@outlook.com) Lucy Tamlyn United States present Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
My contact number Former United States Ambassador in Republic of Benin James Knight. +1(408) 809-8383
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